Hartford Officer Fired After Shooting Black Man in Mental Health Crisis

It's March 27.

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A Harper Police Officer has been fired after shooting and killing a black man during

a mental health crisis on a city street.

Officer Joseph Magnano, who was new to the force, arrived at the scene on February 27

and opened fire just 30 seconds later.

Stephen Jones, 38, was holding a knife after cutting himself, and he died four days later

in the hospital.

His sister had called 911 for help with his crisis, and three other officers spent several

minutes trying to call him the situation.

Body camera footage shows them urging Jones to drop the knife and assuring him they were

there to assist, but he did not respond verbally.

The mayor praised those officers for their teamwork, but said Magnano's actions failed

short of department standards, terminating him right away.

This came one day after Jones' funeral, attended by civil rights leaders who called it a

tragic failure and demanded better handling of mental health.

Calls.

Just eight days earlier, on February 19, another Hartford officer shot and killed Everard

Walker in a separate mental health incident, involving a knife.

That case is also under review.

State investigators are now looking into both shootings to decide on possible charges,

while the police union maintains Magnano's use of force was, justified.

The city faces growing pressure for reforms to prevent these kinds of outcomes.